Why Play Lacrosse?
Lacrosse is an incomparable sport — often called
“the fastest sport on two feet.”
It combines speed, skill, teamwork, and strategy to create versatile athletes.
The game is challenging, fast-paced, and fun, while offering players the
opportunity to be part of a team, build confidence, and make lifelong friends.
Bringing Lacrosse to West Grey
Lacrosse has been available in Durham since 2015. The program began with a small
group of parents who wanted their children to experience the sport and grow in a
positive, team-focused environment.
As experienced coaches came on board, the program expanded beyond introductory
sessions. Early seasons focused on skills and drills, shinny-style games,
and player development, eventually leading to exhibition games against Saugeen
Shores in 2016 and 2017.
To provide athletes with more competitive opportunities, the association applied
to the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) in 2018 and was granted approval to join
Zone play as a house league team.
Early Competitive Success
In 2019, West Grey Rampage rep teams competed in the association’s first OLA
Provincial Championships, marking a major milestone for the program.
- Tyke Division: West Grey’s first OLA Provincial title
- PeeWee 1 Team: Zone 8 Championship
Building on the momentum from 2015 through 2019, the future of lacrosse in West
Grey looked extremely promising. However, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic
suspended all lacrosse operations across Ontario.
In 2021, a modified in-house program helped revive the Rampage association,
offering a combination of indoor and outdoor play and giving kids the
opportunity to return to sport in a safe, supportive environment.
Continued Growth & Recent Achievements
By 2022, regular season play, tournaments, and the OLA Lacrosse Festival
(Provincial Championships) returned in full.
- U17 Team: Second OLA Provincial title
- U13 Team 1: Provincial silver medal
- U9 & U11 Teams: Zone 8 Championships
- 2023: Introduction of the association’s first U22 team
- 2026: Introduction of the association's first Junior C team
Lacrosse continues to grow here in West Grey, and none of this would be possible
without the incredible support of our community — referees, volunteers,
sponsors, arena staff, executive members, parents, and of course the players on the
floor.
This is a beautiful sport, and we are stronger because of all of you.
Our Program Today
Travel teams typically play approximately 10 regular-season games each season,
with about half played at home. The season runs from late May through mid-July
against other clubs in Zone 8.
Teams may also participate in local tournaments and OLA Provincials, typically
held in early August.
Try Lacrosse programs usually begin in mid-February, with weekly
practices starting in late March or early April.
We hope to continue growing and offering lacrosse opportunities to the West Grey
community. Thank you for your continued support.
Be sure to keep an eye on our website and social media pages for the latest
information — and always Go Rampage!
NHL Players on Lacrosse
Many NHL players credit lacrosse as a key part of their athletic development,
helping build creativity, hand-eye coordination, and game awareness.
“If sport has a high point of the year, it must be the first week of spring.”
“…When I was growing up, I used to love this time of year. It was when I put
my hockey equipment away and I was absolutely ecstatic to see the end
of the hockey season. One of the worst things to happen to the game,
in my opinion, has been year-round hockey.”
“All it does for kids, as far as I can tell, is keep them out of sports they should
be doing in warmer weather. I could hardly wait to get my lacrosse stick out
and start throwing the ball around. It didn’t matter how cold or rainy it would be,
we’d be out firing the ball against walls and working on our moves as we played
the lacrosse equivalent to road hockey.”
“All the good hockey players seemed to play lacrosse in those days and everyone
of them learned something from the game to carry over — things athletes can
only learn by mixing up games they play when they are young.”
— Wayne Gretzky
“It's lacrosse that helped me to spin off checks, take shots and protect the puck under pressure. My stick skills, the way to read the play quickly comes from lacrosse. The hand-eye coordination, is just one of the little things that helps you in hockey.”
— John Tavares